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American Adventure Travel: Great White Sharks - Big Fish - Big Teeth -Big Surprises
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Added: 04/21/2004
Type: Summary
Viewed: 1206 time(s)
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American Adventure Travel: Great White Sharks - Big Fish - Big Teeth -Big Surprises
“Fourteen feet and almost one ton of raw predatory power was behind the shark that severed our boats anchor cable” explained Patric Douglas CEO of Absolute Adventures-Shark Diver (http://www.sharkdiver.com) with a wry smile. He and his boats captain and a few astonished clients were looking over the remains of a 20,000 pound poly anchor cable (about as thick as a mans forearm) which had been transformed into nothing more than a frayed mess. This was “just another day at the office” for American adventure seekers and the seasoned crew of Shark Diver who in the course of their 5 day Great White shark expeditions off the coast of California have had hungry white sharks “stalk” crew members, fly completely out of the water, and run their pectoral fins along the bars of their shark cages like a child running a stick along a white picket fence. “That can be a bit unnerving sometimes” explained Douglas “you’re staring directly into the big black eye and a wicked smile at that point”.
Until recently adventure seekers wanting to meet the world’s top ocean predator had to travel over 5000 miles to South Africa. For this lifestyle entrepreneur taking clients cage diving with Great White Sharks is the best day job ever, one that he won’t quit anytime soon. The numerous Great White Sharks off the coast of California are fast moving, always unpredictable, razor-toothed predators. To interact with these unique animals, some more than 15 feet in length, Douglas and his team spent five months building the world’s largest shark cages totaling 100 square feet with a unique external floatation system that provides a safer way for divers to come nose-to-nose with one ton Great White Sharks below the water’s surface.
“Clients come on our shark diving expeditions looking for their next thrill, but they leave with a greater appreciation for the beauty and grace of Great White Sharks,” said Douglas with an easy smile. “My biggest thrill is not necessarily the cage diving – it’s watching people’s lives being fundamentally changed by stretching their comfort boundaries. This is just one of the unexpected by-products of our cage diving experience.”
Shark Divers five day expeditions include notable Great White Shark researchers from Mexico and the USA who are studying the DNA and migration patterns of these animals.
Since 2000, Douglas and his company Absolute Adventures-Shark Diver have offered Great White Shark cage diving, first in the Farallon Islands near San Francisco and now at the acclaimed Isla Guadalupe site. To help preserve the Farallon’s fragile shark population located within a National Marine Sanctuary, Absolute Adventures-Shark Diver ceased all cage diving there in the autumn of 2002 and began focusing entirely on Mexico and several new destinations for 2004 and 2005. In fact, 2003 was a banner year for Douglas. Despite being in the middle of the second Gulf War when most travel companies were at a virtual standstill, he and his team successfully booked their entire 2003 expedition season at Isla Guadalupe with more than 145 excited divers in record time.
To book a Great White Shark cage diving adventure with Patric Douglas and the crew of Absolute Adventures-Shark Diver, call 415.235.9410 or visit http://www.sharkdiver.com.
About Patric Douglas
Cleaning up after his third hurricane in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Absolute Adventures–Shark Diver’s Patric Douglas decided that there had to be a safer way to make a living. He moved back to the west coast where he was quickly offered a job working for a medical travel company escorting American doctors all over the globe. Douglas then spent the next two years as one of the first American tour guides back into Vietnam setting up a safe, unique travel route throughout its remarkable historically rich country. While escorting 21-day tours through China, Bali, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America, his easygoing leadership and good humor made for some exciting moments on the road that would not have happened without him. Mountain slides in Peru, saltwater crocodiles blocking the road in Australia and even a Cyclone in New Zealand did not deter this imaginative expedition guide from offering the best available to his risk-taking international clients. Finding a safer way to make a living has now led this adventure entrepreneur into the deep sea realm of the Great White Shark.
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Poster: Rachael Riveria
Added: -0/9-/2006
We went with these guys on the first year they went out there. The ride over was rough but saw a lot of sharks. Great crew!
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Poster: Chris Colman
Added: -0/3-/2006
We were on the Oct 15 2004 expedition with the Florida Firehouse Group #16. Every year we do something crazy like this, from game parks in South Africa to you name it. Must say, it was one hell of an adventure!
Go 16!
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